Computer enclosure

ABSTRACT

An exemplary computer enclosure includes a chassis, a latch member, and a cover plate. The chassis includes a rear panel, and an opening. The cover plate covers the opening and depends a flange with a pair of holes defined therein. The rear panel defines a pair of slots therein. The latch member is pivotably attached to the rear panel and includes a pair of spaced resilient arms. A pair of grooves and a pair of hooks are formed at opposite ends of the resilient arms. The grooves of the latch member engage with the rear panel adjacent the slots and the hooks movably engage in the through holes of the flange of the cover plate when the resilient arms are deformed.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and more particularly to a computer enclosure which has a cover plate that can be independently and readily secured to the computer enclosure by a latch member.

2. Description of Related Art

A typical contemporary personal computer enclosure accommodates a number of electronic devices therein. The enclosure needs to be opened on a number of occasions for a variety of reasons, such as for replacing a defective electronic device with a new one. Therefore, the enclosure should be able to be readily opened and subsequently reassembled.

A conventional computer enclosure includes a base, side panels, and a top panel. The side panels and the top panel are respectively secured to the base of the enclosure with separate securing elements. A plurality of locking slots is defined in the base. A plurality of locking tabs is formed on the side panels and the top panel, for engagement into the locking slots of the base. Screws are then used to secure the side panels and the top panel to the base.

A tool is required for installation and removal of the screws. This is unduly inconvenient and time-consuming. An example of the above-mentioned mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,540.

What is needed is to provide a computer enclosure having a cover plate which can be independently and readily secured thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary computer enclosure includes a chassis, a latch member, and a cover plate. The chassis includes a rear panel, and an opening. The cover plate covers the opening and has a tab depending therefrom with a pair of holes defined therein. The rear panel defines a pair of slots therein. The latch member is pivotably attached to the rear panel and includes a pair of spaced resilient arms. A pair of grooves and a pair of hooks are formed at opposite ends of the resilient arms. The grooves of the latch member engage with the rear panel adjacent the slots and the hooks movably engage in the holes of the tab of the cover plate when the resilient arms are deformed.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a computer enclosure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer enclosure including a chassis, a cover plate, and a latch member;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, isometric view of the cover plate of FIG. 1, but viewed upside down;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of FIG. 5 along a line of VI-VI, showing the computer enclosure in locked and unlocked states respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a computer enclosure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The computer enclosure includes a chassis 10, a cover plate 50, and a latch member 30.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the chassis 10 includes a bottom panel 12, a rear panel 14, a pair of side panels 16, and a front panel 18. The bottom panel 12, the rear panel 14, the side panels 16, and the front panel 18 together form an opening 19. Bent flanges 142, 162, 182 are bent inwardly from the rear panel 14, the side panels 16, and the front panel 18 respectively, at the opening 19. Depending portions 143, 163 extend perpendicularly from free edges of the bent flanges 142, 162, respectively. A plurality of through splits 184 is defined in the bent flange 182 of the front panel 18. A pair of spaced slots 144 is defined in an upper portion of the rear panel 14. A pair of guiding plates 146 extends inward from the rear panel 14 through upper portions of the slots 144. A pair of ears 147 is punched inward from the rear panel 14 below each slot 144. Each pair of the ears 147 has a pair of semi-columnar posts 148 each defining a pivoting hole 149 extending out therefrom respectively.

The latch member 30 includes a handle beam 32, a pair of spaced resilient arms 34 extending from one side of the handle beam 32, and a pair of fixing blocks 36 extending from ends of the resilient arms 34. A cutout 322 is defined in the handle beam 32, facing the resilient arms 34 and the fixing blocks 36. A pair of grooves 342 is defined between the handle beam 32 and the resilient arms 34. A pair of clutching hooks 344 extends from ends of the resilient arms 34, communicating with upper portions of the fixing blocks 36. Each of the fixing blocks 36 generally has a triangular outside configuration. Each of the fixing blocks 36 includes a pair of shafts 362 extending in an opposite alignment from a front portion thereof, and an abutting portion 364 with rounded configuration formed at a rear end thereof.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the cover plate 50 is used to cover the opening 19 of the chassis 10. A flange 52 extends from a rear portion of the cover plate 50. The flange 52 includes a folded portion 522 folded on an inside surface of the cover plate 50, a depending portion 524, and a bent portion 526 extending perpendicularly from a free end of the depending portion 524. A pair of through holes 525 is defined in the depending portion 524 of the flange 52 near the bent portion 526. A pair of tabs 54 extends from opposite side portions of the cover plate 50, for engaging with depending portions 163 of the chassis 10. A plurality of clasps 56 extends from a front portion of the cover plate 50, for engaging in the splits 184 of the chassis 10.

Referring also to FIG. 4, in assembly, the latch member 30 is attached to the chassis 10, with the fixing blocks 36 extending through the slots 144 and the shafts 362 pivotably engaging in the pivoting holes 149 of the posts 148. The resilient arms 34 extend through the slots 144 and are movably sandwiched between a corresponding pair of the guiding plates 146. The grooves 342 of the latch member 30 engage with the rear panel 14 around the slots 144.

Referring also to FIGS. 5 to 7, before assembling the cover plate 50 to the chassis 10, the resilient arms 34 of the latch member 30 are depressed, by applying a downward force on the handle beam 32 via the cutout 322 of the handle beam 32. The latch member 30 is rotated outward so that the grooves 342 disengage from the rear panel 14 of the chassis 10. Then the cover plate 50 is attached to the chassis 10 and covers the opening 19 of the chassis 10, with the folded portion 522 of the flange 52 seating on the bent flange 142 of the chassis 10 and the depending portion 524 of the flange 52 sliding downward along the depending portion 143 of the chassis 10. The tabs 54 of the cover plate 50 align with the depending portions 163 of the bent flanges 162 of chassis 10 from an interior. The clasps 56 of the cover plate 50 engage in the splits 184 of the chassis 10. Then the latch member 30 is depressed and rotated back. The hooks 344 of the latch member 30 extend into and engage in the through holes 522 of the flange 52 of the cover plate 50. The rear panel 14 around the slots 144 engages in the grooves 342 of the latch member 30. Thus, the cover plate 50 is latched to the chassis 10.

In disassembling the cover plate 50 from the chassis 10, the latch member 30 is rotated outward, with the resilient arms 34 depressed to disengage the groove 342 from the rear panel 14. The abutting portions 364 of the latch member 30 gradually contact and abut the bent piece 526 of the cover plate 50 upward so that the depending portion 524 of the flange 52 slides upward along the depending portion 143 of the rear panel of the chassis 10. The folded portion 522 of the flange 52 is moved away from the bent flange 142 of the chassis 10 so that the cover plate 50 is tilted upward at one end. Thus, the cover plate 50 is ready to be removed from the chassis 10.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments. 

1. A computer enclosure comprising: a chassis defining an opening and comprising a rear panel, the rear panel comprising at least one slot defined therein; a latch member pivotably mounted to the rear panel adjacent said at least one slot, the latch member comprising at least one resilient arm extending through said at least one slot of the chassis, said at least one resilient arm comprising a groove, and a hook, the groove releasably engaging with the rear panel at said at least one slot; and a cover plate covering the opening of the chassis and comprising a flange depending therefrom corresponding to the rear panel, at least one through hole defined in the flange, the hook of the at least one resilient arm releasably engaging in said at least one through hole so as to lock the cover plate to the chassis.
 2. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch member further comprises a handle beam, and a fixing block extending from opposite ends of said at least one resilient arm.
 3. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the groove is defined in said at least one resilient arm near the handle beam, the hook extends from said at least one resilient member near the fixing block.
 4. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixing block comprises a pair of shafts extending in opposite alignment, the rear panel of the chassis comprises a pair of ears each defining a pivoting hole therein below said at least one slot, the shafts are pivotably received in the pivoting holes.
 5. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fixing block further comprises an abutting portion with rounded configuration formed at an end far away the shafts, the cover plate further comprises a bent piece extending perpendicularly from the flange, the abutting portion movably abuts against the bent piece.
 6. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear panel of the chassis comprises a pair of spaced guiding plates extending inward through said at least one slot to sandwich said at least one resilient arm therebetween.
 7. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises a pair of side panels, a pair of bent flanges with depending portions extends from the side panels respectively, the cover plate comprises a pair of tabs extending from side edges thereof to engage with the depending portions.
 8. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises a front panel, a bent flange extends from the front panel, a plurality of splits is defined in the bent flange, the cover plate comprises a plurality of clasps extending therefrom to engage in the splits of the chassis.
 9. A computer enclosure comprising: a chassis defining an opening and comprising a rear panel, the rear panel comprising at least one slot defined therein; a latch member pivotably attached to the rear panel, and comprising at least one resilient arm, and at least one fixing block extending from an end of said at least one resilient arm, said at least one resilient arm and fixing block movably extending into the chassis through said at least one slot, a groove defined in the latch member to movably receive the rear panel around said at least one slot therein, a hook formed from the latch member with a distance away from the groove along a rotating path of the latch member, an abutting portion formed from said at least one fixing block; and a cover plate covering the opening of the chassis and comprising a flange depending therefrom, the flange comprising at least one through hole to engagingly receive the hook of the latch member, and a bent piece extending from the flange to engage with the abutting portion of the latch member.
 10. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the latch member further comprises a handle beam, and a fixing block extending from opposite ends of said at least one resilient arm.
 11. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the groove is defined in latch member between said at least one resilient arm and the handle beam, the hook extends from said at least one resilient member adjacent the fixing block.
 12. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fixing block comprises a pair of shafts extending in opposite alignment, the rear panel of the chassis comprises a pair of ears each defining a pivoting hole therein below said at least one slot, the shafts are pivotably received in the pivoting holes.
 13. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rear panel of the chassis comprises a pair of spaced guiding plates extending into said at least one slot to sandwich said at least one resilient arm therebetween.
 14. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the chassis further comprises a pair of side panels, a pair of bent flanges with depending portions extends from the side panels respectively, the cover plate comprises a pair of tabs extending from side edges thereof to engage with the depending portions.
 15. The computer enclosure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the chassis further compries a front panel, a bent flange extends from the front panel, a plurality of splits is defined in the bent flange, the cover plate comprises a plurality of clasps extending therefrom to engage in the splits of the chassis.
 16. A computer enclosure comprising: a chassis defining an opening and including a first panel, the first panel defining a slot therethrough; a latch member pivotably mounted to the first panel adjacent the slot, the latch member including a first latch portion located at an inside of the first panel, and a first resilient arm extending from the first latch portion to an outside of the first panel through the slot, the first resilient arm including a locking groove portion configured for engaging with the first panel at the slot so as to lock the latch member in a locked position, the latch member being allowed to pivot away from the locked position upon disengaging of the locking groove portion from the first panel at the slot; and a second panel detachably mounted to the chassis for covering the opening, the second panel including a flange extending therefrom with a second latch portion formed thereon, the second latch portion engaging with the first latch portion in a manner so as to retain the second panel to the chassis when the latch member is in the locked position.
 17. The computer enclosure of claim 16, wherein one of the first and second latch portion is a latching slot, and the other of the first and second latch portion is a hook releasably engaged in the latching slot.
 18. The computer enclosure of claim 16, wherein the latch member further comprises another latch portion and another resilient arm configured in substantially a same manner as the first latch portion and the first resilient arm, and a handle beam connected between outer ends of the first resilient arm and the another resilient arm. 